The following criteria will be used to evaluate Excellence in Practice entries:
- needs identification
- evidence that the practice was an appropriate response to the business challenge, problem, or need
- design approach
- evidence that the intervention was designed and implemented in a way that considered the best interests of the organization as well as those of employees
- evidence of, and degree of alignment with, other talent development practices and organizational goals, to achieve desired outcomes
- evidence of partnerships within and outside the organization (e.g., with senior management, frontline supervisors, external resources, etc.)
- strong evaluation strategy, including what data is measured, why, and how frequently
- evidence of actual or anticipated organizational impact
- evidence of actual or anticipated individual/team impact
- organizational learning
- eligibility.
1. Because practices focus on results, training suppliers and consultants should apply only in collaboration with their customer. The application must be written from the perspective of the customer organization. The customer organization would be recognized, not the supplier/partner, should the entry win.
2. Applicants are not required to be members of ATD.
3. Practices may range from a single, narrowly focused activity to a multifaceted, multidisciplinary initiative, so long as the results can be clearly linked to advancing the organization's goals. ATD staff will review all initial applications to ensure they are complete and may request additional information. All complete applications will go through a blind review process conducted by a panel of industry experts. ATD reserves the right to dismiss applications that lack clarity or sufficient information.
4. Applications MUST be anonymous. Identifying information about the organization (name or staff members) should be completely stripped from the application that is submitted to reviewers. Applicants who violate this rule risk disqualification.
